HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES

A national consultation process will guide the third set of the Morrison Government’s ground-breaking Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities for 2020–2022. This consultation process will ensure the MRFF continues to target national health priorities for better health outcomes. Determining future health priorities is about taking into account the burden of disease in Australians and the need to enhance the translation of research into clinical practice. Australia’s health and medical researchers are world class and we continue to drive investment in ways that deliver the practical benefits of medical research and innovation to all Australians. The landmark $20 billion MRFF is supercharging this growth in Australia’s cutting-edge health and medical research. It is leading to new cures and treatments across Australia—saving lives and improving lives.The Australian public, organisations with expertise in health and medical research and innovation, consumer representatives, clinicians and health services managers are invited to contribute to the consultation. Online consultation will begin today, 9 September with submissions to be considered by the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board. There will also be targeted webinars and virtual roundtables on specific issues and themes to inform this third set of MRFF priorities. Information about consultation activities will be provided on the MRFF website. Interested stakeholders can receive the latest information, by subscribing to the MRFF newsletter (www.health.gov.au/using-our-websites/subscriptions/subscribe-to-mrff-newsletter). The MRFF was established as an endowment fund to provide a sustainable source of funding for vital medical research and is the single largest boost in health and medical research funding in Australia’s history. -ENDS-